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Sunday, June 30, 2013

30 June 2013, Writing Ideas - TitlesAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Unless you get a bolt from the blue while you are writing your novel, a title is
best affixed when you finish the first draft. Sometimes it takes a long while to
match the right title to a book, and sometimes the marketing savvy of your
editor/publisher helps fix the title. Here are some ideas on how not to put
together a bad title. Once you have a potential title or titles in
mind:

Check it on Amazon, B&N, or any other book seller site. You
want your title to be nearly or absolutely unique. This means no one else has
used it in common practice or knowledge. If you have a great title, but everyone
and his brother is using it already, how will you separate yourself from the
crowd? Just take a look at some common titles on Amazon and see how many hits
they generate--sometimes thousands. If your title gets confused with a thousand
other titles, no one will find your book. On the other hand, if your book has a
strange title, you might get no hits at all.

Make sure your title
reflects your work. Roz Young recommended my book Aegypt www.AegyptNovel.com be called, In the
Tomb of the Goddess of Darkness and Light. That's catchy, but too long. There
are some other works with Aegypt in the title and another work named Aegypt.
Just one. I felt that that was great probability. Someone looking for Aegypt
(either novel) would find mine. This is a positive.

Don't hold on to your
working title if it doesn't work. For example, I gave a working title of Seeds
for The Seeds of Rebellion to the work The End of Honor www.TheEndofHonor.com. The working
title of The Fox's Honor www.TheFoxsHonor.com was Duel. The title
of A Season of Honor www.ASeasonofHonor.com was Desert.
These titles simply stood in place for the final titles. Eventually, the Honor
theme became the focus of each of the titles, and finally, I gave the series the
title The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox www.DragonandFox.com. This was a request
from my publisher and made sense from the context of the books.

So to
recap, make sure you have a somewhat unique title, that can't be confused with
too many works. Check it out before you go to print.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

29 June 2013, Writing Ideas - Book CoversAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Book covers are like titles and marketing. They are necessary to the finished
product and necessary for the writer to develop. First, no one is going to read
your book and make the perfect cover for you. You are the most knowledgeable
source for your work, and only you will be able to put together an idea that will
capture it in a single picture--usually with help. When you finish your work:
fix on a title (as described below), work up your marketing materials, and then
put together a rough idea for a cover. You can see the process at www.ldalford.com look in unpublished novels.
You can check the secrets pages for each published novel to see the process the
covers went through.

Don't expect artwork unless you are willing to pay a
lot for it or you are a best selling author. You can do it yourself, but unless
you are really good (I mean a professional who sells or has sold or been trained
or won real awards) don't even think about it. Many people who think they are
great artists can only produce junk. As a matter of a fact the number of rotten
writers is directly proportional to the number of rotten artists. Most of the
time, you aren't both, but there are rare exceptions. The artist who did some of
my artwork is also a writer, and she is an awesome artist.

Expect the
publisher's cover department to put together photos, writing (fonts), and
backgrounds to make your cover. This is a very cost effective means to make a
cover and is the most common today. You can do it as easily as they can. The
trick is that they have much better equipment, photos, fonts, software, etc. at
their disposal. All you have to do is search the web or clip art to find the
approximate photos that match your ideas. You put them together and send the
idea to your publisher.

Generally, your publisher's art department will
use your ideas to come up with a great cover or a couple of covers for you to
choose from. If you look on my site at www.aegyptnovel.com under secrets, you
will see the cover proposal I sent, their proposed covers, and the final design.
You can find these for each of my published novels. You can also look at my new
novels to see my rough cover proposals.

Sandi Andrews of the Book Club
Network www.bookfun.org wrote this about a
couple of my covers:

Because I have both Centurion and
Aegypt in front of me, I’ll address your question first. Perhaps it
would help to understand the progression that led from not being familiar with
your work to actually buying two of your books.The shortest answer is this site.
The longer explanation starts with your friendship with Bruce. Because he posted
in the discussions here, I became aware of him and his work. I checked out his
website and online retailers to discover more about his background, books, and
what others were saying about his work. Garnering enough information to justify
a purchase, I ordered two of his books. By the time I was not very far into the
second book, I determined not only did I enjoy his descriptive style and well
researched content, but the man definitely had something to say that was worth
my time to read and ponder. I then purchased the third book in his series and
continued some exchanges with Bruce. In one of them he mentioned your
friendship, suggesting that I might be interested in your book,
Centurion, so I repeated the research process focusing this time on you
and your work.What Bruce did not know was that if my father had not insisted
that my undergraduate degree be in Finance, I would have pursued a course of
study that would have led to a career in Biblical archaeology. The fact that I
spent the greater part of my London vacation this past February at the British
Museum underscores my interest in the subject matter of your books. I ordered
both Aegypt and Centurion.So after that long winded aside, the
answer to your primary question is that I think the covers of your books are
both appealing and appropriate. The photo of the centurion on the book with the
same title is riveting. My eyes immediately locked on the statue’s eyes which
appear to be focusing on something or someone that is causing inner turmoil. The
cover poses unspoken questions compelling a potential readers to seek the
answers inside. Once the cover had my attention, I reread the back blurb which I
had previously read online and then flipped through the pages to read a writing
sample. Satisfied that I would enjoy the book, it was placed on my “to be read
soon” stack. BTW, thank you for the Lexicon at the back of the book…it will help
my understanding and limit interruptions to research terms online.The cover of
Aegypt needed the blurb information on the back to clarify the time period of
the novel but it is still compelling enough that I would have picked the book up
in a B & M. Because I purchased online, the other pertinent information was
visible with the cover for the purchase decision.You have not only caught my
interest because of the archaeology aspect of your writing but I think my
husband will also be reading your work especially the sci-fi. He may already
have read some of your air and space related articles in some of the aviation
magazines he receives. Early in his career, Pete worked at both Carswell AFB in
Fort Worth (where he first learned to fly) and at McClellan AFB in Sacramento
where he worked on software for the FB-111A.So… is our inclination to explore
your work based upon your covers alone? Probably not, but I do believe the
covers would not repel anyone except those with no imagination or little
interest in historical novels.As an experiment, I might present a sampling of
some books for the club members to indicate their first reactions to the various
covers.

Friday, June 28, 2013

28 June 2013, Writing Ideas - Watch WordsAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Now I'm really giving away my writing secrets. You can see more writing secrets
at www.ldalford.com. I use this list to
refine my writing. I do a search for these words and constructions and get rid
of those that don't make sense. Most of the time none of these make sense. To
the maximum extent possible get rid of the words that define these weak
constructions. I will give some specific examples
below.

hadStay in the past
tense. Movement into the perfect tense makes tedious reading. If you must
introduce an idea in the past shift to the perfect tense for only a couple of
sentences to introduce time sequence, then transition back to the past tense.
Otherwise the use of the word "had" can be easily replaced with much stronger
and direct verbs.He had a cat. (can be changed to)He owned a
cat.He possessed a cat.He loved his cat.

-lyDon't tell us
how someone feels especially by adding adverbial descriptions of speech. Instead
show us how they feel."I don't like cats," he said disgustedly. (not
good)"I don't like cats," he said with disgust. (a little better)"I
don't like cats," he gagged. (very good)

werewasSame problem as
had. There are always stronger verbs that are more descriptive. Plus, was and
were are used to move into the subjunctive case. The use of was is reasonable
for identity statements, but these should be reduced as much as possible. For
example,She was a teacher. (Okay)She taught children.
(Better)

gottengotGotten is rotten. Got is rot. Just don't use
them. You can find so many other ways of saying the same thing without using
these words. Instead of got, in almost every case, you can use
received.

evenEven is okay if you are using it to describe a level
area or idea, it is usually redundant as in:Even the cats didn't like it.
(bad)The cats didn't like it. (better)Everyone including the cats didn't
like it. (exactly the same statement, still redundant, more
specific)

saidSaid is dead. Don't use said to tell us what a person
is saying."I like you," she said. (bad)"I like you," she gushed.
(better)"I like you," she kissed his lips. (best)

utilizeJust
don't do it. Utilize means the same as use. It is a redundant word without any
purpose. Always use a smaller shorter word when it will do. That is unless you
want your character to sound pretentious and overinflated.

And that's
part of the point. In conversation, these words may be used to convey a specific
idea about the character. The use in the narrative and descriptive construction
of the text is not a good idea.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

27 June 2013, Writing Ideas - Nudity in WritingAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

NudityIn real life people take off their clothing for various reasons. In a
novel, unless it drives the plot, theme, or story line there is little reason to
document the action, consequences, or reasons for your character's nudity.

In my novels, especially the Aegypt novels www.AegyptNovel.com, I use nudity with a
specific purpose in mind. I'm giving away real secrets here, about my writing
and my ideas on writing.

Back to EdenOne of the main themes in the
Aegypt Novels is 'back to Eden' driven by Leora. Leora, the Goddess of Light, is
not perfect, but she is the archetype Eve--the perfect woman. Her nudity
demonstrates and represents her closeness to God. Likewise Lumie're, her
daughter, and the Goddess of Darkness, in her time, is clothed and uncomfortable
unclothed. These themes play throughout the novels with this specific
purpose.

Good/Purity and Evil/ImpurityLeora, the Goddess of Light, is
naked at certain times, and Leila, the Goddess of Darkness, is always naked. The
contrast within the books is their stature and pose--the purpose for their
nudity is to represent the concept the Jews call Eve/Lilith. Eve was created
perfect, the mother of mankind, Lilith was created perfect and the mother of
demons. The concept displays how beauty and perfection of form does not equate
to beauty and perfection of purpose.

Cultural Comparison/ContrastI do
cultures and societies in my novels. Many cultures are driven by clothing, many
are not. The contrast and comparison is wonderful. The play between them
significant. A powerful contrast in many cultures is their view of nudity. The
ancient Irish culture abhorred it, while the Greeks thought it was completely
normal. This comparison/contrast based on clothing, or the lack of it, provides
a powerful driver for plot lines. I do this a lot in my newest novel
Dana-ana.

ShockShock refers to the characters and the readers. The
shock value of the use of nudity in a fashion the reader may not expect can be
powerful--the shock value between characters whose cultural perceptions are very
different is priceless. These cannot drive a theme, but they provide some power
within a theme--especially a theme about culture.

All these ideas work
together on the page. They are self supporting and although can be used
separately, gain power through being used together.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

26 June 2013, My Writing - A Synopsis, Sister of DarknessAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

I have two books on contract with OakTara publishing. You can see more about
then at www.ldalford.com and www.SisterofDarkness.com. I already
talked about Sister of Light. Sister of Darkness is the next
novel and follows the main characters from my published novel, Aegypt, through WWII. All my books are
in some way dark. I try to trip issues and explore themes that propel the
characters into the depths of difficult decisions. A novel can only be great when
the theme itself is important. No one wants to read a novel about a trivial
subject or a trifling problem. The problem in Sister of Darkness is the
interaction of Lumiére, their daughter, with the Goddess of Darkness, Leora's
sister and Lumiére's aunt. The Goddess of Darkness has been encouraging Hitler's
actions in WWII. So, you can see the dilemma posed by this book. Lumiére's
entanglement becomes a problem for her parents because to fight the Goddess of
Darkness, they must also confront their daughter. The problem is worse because
Lumiére thinks she has been tainted by involvement in her aunt's actions and
work. This book is action packed and exciting. It builds the intelligence
involvement of the main characters that is further fleshed out in later
novels.

Here is a synopsis of Sister of Darkness.

A pall
spreads over the world with the beginning of World War II. The darkness is both
a physical and spiritual miasma. Colonel Paul Bolang, a special officer in the
French Alpine Corps, is assigned, with his men, to support the Allied operations
against the Germans in Norway. He leaves his wife, Leora Bolang and their
children Lumiére, Robert, Jacques, and Marie in sunny Hyères, France.Paul
and Leora share a secret they have never divulged to their children or to their
closest friends. Leora is the incarnation of the Goddess of Light, herself
reintroduced into the world from a 4000 year old tomb. Paul, her warrior, has a
power beyond that of normal humans. Unfortunately, when Paul released Leora,
Leora’s sister, the Goddess of Darkness, Leila was also released into the world.
Leila delights in darkness and the deaths of men. 4000 years ago, Leora and
Leila were displaced with the entire pantheon of the Egyptian gods when Moses
led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Now Leila wants revenge—revenge against
the people who displaced her and revenge against the world—“that is her
purpose.”
Paul is still on assignment when Germany invades France. Leora and
her children barely escape the clutches of German troops through the help of
Major Lyons leading a British Special Forces Team. They are shipped to Britain
with only the clothes on their back. In Britain, Matilda Hastings, Tilly,
rescues them, and Leora discovers she was, weeks before, invited to a royal
function. How did Lyons know the Germans were coming for them? How did Tilly
know to help them? Why the predestined invitation? Who knows about Leora and
Paul’s secrets, and who is helping them?
Worse, the Osiris Offering Formula,
a small black tablet Leila desires, lay protected and safe at the house in
Hyères—now it is missing. If Leila gets her hands on the offering formula, she
will be able to influence the world a hundred fold greater with her evil. Leila
controls men through their own dark desires. With the offering formula, her
power will increase.
As war spreads, Leora must deal with Paul’s loss, her
sister’s interference in the world, the violent world around her, and finally,
her daughter, Lumiére’s strange dreams and desires. The novel, Sister of
Darkness leads through the dark days of World War II from its beginning to a
spiritual confrontation at its conclusion. Leora and Paul face enemies and
threats throughout, yet they persevere to the bitter end—an end where they must
directly confront Leila and their own daughter. For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

25 June 2013, My Writing - A Synopsis, Sister of LightAnnouncement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

I don't have a book cover yet for Sister of Light. You can see a cover proposal at www.ldalford.com and at www.SisterofLight.com. This is a novel in the Aegypt series. It is a complete novel, and you don't have to read Aegypt to enjoy it. It follows, Leora and Paul, the major characters in Aegypt. This book covers the interwar years from 1926 to 1934. This page also includes the production schedule for those who are interested. Many authors wonder how the timing of a book is as it goes from acceptance to completion, I decided to cover it for this book and my subsequent books.

Here is the synopsis of Sister of Light. You should check out the secrets pages for more information.
Leora Bolang is a goddess. Not an imaginary being, but a real flesh and blood goddess awakened from death out of a 4000 year old tomb. In ancient Egypt, Leora was known as the goddess of light. Unfortunately, Leora’s sister, Leila is the Egyptian goddess of darkness, and it was the goddess of darkness who forced Leora into the tomb and an early death. In 1926, Paul Bolang released Leora from her tomb, but Leila was also released. Leila is absolutely evil, and Paul Bolang with Leora fought her earthly being and defeated her. Leila’s spirit, her ka, was released into the world and now the goddess of darkness wants revenge, revenge and power over the lives of men.

Paul Bolang is an officer in the French Cavalry—a hero of the Great War and France’s colonial expeditions. For Leora’s sake, Paul accepts an exchange tour with the Americans—Leora, the goddess of light, requires the sun for her power and being. In America, they find purpose and bear children—four beautiful and precocious beings who absorb languages and learning like a sponge. But in 1933 Paul is recalled to Paris and to a special assignment. Leora saw a future much different than this, but for her family and her children, she returns with Paul to France. Leora always faced tension in European and American society because she is dark skinned and African. The cloud blanketed skies of Northern Europe entice her sister, Leila, but rob Leora of her full power. When Paul departs, Leora tries vainly to hold onto her strength, but without Paul she looses hope and vitality. Paul is captured during a military operation and Leora receives another blow. Before he vanished, Paul sent her a package--an antiquity the Germans and Leila desire. A blackmailer from Leila threatens Paul and Leora’s honor and Paul’s military commission.

The events of Leora and Leila’s release caused the destruction of Paul’s command and men. The official record marked Paul a hero—his blackmailer threatens to release information that will show Paul was a coward and traitor. He further threatens to reveal Leora as a primitive tribeswoman and whore. Leora rejects the threats and finds herself quickly at Paul’s court martial. The trial rules against Paul, and Leora’s name and picture are splashed across every paper in Europe.

Now Leora must discover the strength to fight her sister and find her husband. Beaten down at every turn, Leora’s family and friends come to her rescue—they support her and Paul. Leora has only one chance, she seeks out Paul’s British friend, Sir Barot Cheston. Only Sir Barot possesses the money, connections, and friendship that might give her a chance of finding Paul Bolang. With Sir Barot’s impetuous and overly refined graduate student, Tilly Hastings, they begin a breakneck mission to discover the origins of the antiquity Leila desires, the source of information that dishonored Paul and Leora, and ultimately, the rescue of Paul Bolang.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A Season of Honor

This is the first novel I wrote, but it was
tempered by the completion of 7 other novels before it was published. I liked
the characters so much, I had to write the other 2 honor novels to expand the
world that went before. This, like the other novels in The Chronicles of the
Dragon and the Fox, is a complete novel. The other books simply give you the
details of the back story that is alluded to in A Season of Honor. This
novel asks the question of what circumstance might make an honorable man
potentially compromise his honor. It is an exciting adventure coupled with
romance.

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the
balance. Book Three, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox. Don't miss Book
One, The End of Honor or Book Two, The Fox's Honor. By L.D. Alford, the author
of the suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission.
Baron Shawn du Locke
must choose between honor and desire. horn of his lands, regency, title, father,
lady, and name, the only thing left to the Baron Shawn du Locke is his honor. Nothing in the past has
shaken it and nothing would cause him to compromise it—until he meets the Lady
ElinaAcier, the last hope of the
Noble Houses of the Human Galactic Empire. To protect the planet Acier from the Emperor, she
must marry a Duke’s son. Shawn must safely deliver Elina to the Imperial capital before the
Emperor discovers and kills Elina, and before her presence drives him
insane…or he falls in love.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

My favorite: Fox...

The Fox's Honor is my favorite of my
published science fiction novels. I recently reread it after getting a very
positive private feedback from a fellow author. There were, of course, things
I'd like to change in it, but overall, I was happy with the story and the novel.
I hope the Ghost Chronicles eventually are published. The continuing story of
this universe gets even better. The question Fox asks is the most interesting:
what would a man do if his life was returned to him?

The fragile
peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book Two, The
Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox Don't miss Book One, The End of Honor, or
Book Three, A Season of Honor By L.D. Alford, the author of the
suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission It was a time of
treachery and vengeance…of nobility and redemption…all because of love. Prince
Devon Rathenberg, the Emperor’s Fox and chief of intelligence, has fallen in
love with the Lady Tamar Falkeep—the third daughter of the least Duke in the
Human Galactic Empire. But custom dictates they can never marry. Then the
unthinkable happens. In the insurrection that threatens to tear apart the Human
Galactic Empire, Devon designs a plan to reveal the Empire’s internal enemies.
It’s a plan of desperation that, by design, will result in the ultimate
sacrifice: his own death. But before he dies, Devon is determined to win the
heart of Lady Tamar and declare his love.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Not everyone likes science fiction. I love
science fiction, and I enjoy writing it. Many people who don't usually read or
enjoy science fiction, enjoy my science fiction novels. The Chronicles of the
Dragon and the Fox were written for my adult children. They encapsulate honor in
its most pure form. They focus on an honor based culture and society that is
futuristic but still ancient. These books appeal to those who like Arthurian
legend and intrigue. The first of the series of three novels is The End of
Honor.

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book
One The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox An intragalactic war threatens to
tear apart his heart. and the entire Empire. The death-knell of the Human
Galactic Empire has sounded-it is the crash of an axe against the virgin white
marble of the Hall of Accords. It is the bitten-off cry of the Lady Lyral
Neuterra, whose head lies sundered from her smooth shoulders. It is the death of
the Emperor at the hand of his own son. It is the whirlwind of a thousand ships
sent to enforce the new Emperor's will. And only Prince John-Mark, the Emperor's
youngest son, can bring the Empire back from the edge-back to peace and honor.
Don't miss... Book Two: The Fox's Honor Book Three: A Season of Honor Or L.D.
Alford's suspense-thriller: Aegypt

Friday, June 21, 2013

21 June 2013, My Writing - A Review, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Chronicles of the Dragon and
the Fox...

I don't like trilogies. I like series. In a series
of novels, you don't need to read the earlier or later novels to get the point.
But if you like the characters and the writer, you know there are other novels
in the series where you can greet them all again. The Chronicles of the Dragon
and the Fox are all like that. The first two novels are also unique in that the
first begins in first person with a doomed character and they both share a
common chapter. They really aren't experimental novels, but they depart from the
norm on these two points. I don't think you will be disappointed with them.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The Second Mission is great
history...

The Second Mission is history in a time travel
wrapper. In all my books I want to take you back so you can really see the true
world in the period and culture I describe. I want you to see the culture as a
contrast of your ideas and not within the context of your culture or ideas. I
want it to be as real as though you actually stood in that original time and
breathed that original air. I think The Second Mission does this well. Plus in
The Second Mission you get some translation of the last five Socratic Dialogs
and of the play Frogs. Hope you like it.

The Second Mission reveals the
unintentional journey of a modern man, Alan Fisher, into time. He is an
accidental and unwilling participant in humankind's second greatest adventure.
Sophia, the actual time agent, became his reluctant guide. She had trained ten
years to become Sophia, a Greek woman of 399 B.C. The second mission was her
mission, and she did not want to share it with anyone. Now she was responsible
for her mission as well as the survival of the interloper, Alan. They were
linked together for better or worse in the second most important mission of
mankind. For one year of history, 400 to 399 B.C., in the city-state of Athens
in the place now called Greece, neither Alan nor Sophia could return to their
own times.

Alan discovered the purpose of the second mission was observation
and verification-to record the words and death of Socrates. This was the second
most important historical research to future generations. Although Sophia would
share little information about the future with Alan, he discovered the purpose
of the first mission, and that information changed his life forever.Alan
Fisher, marooned in time, turned into Sophia's greatest hope for success and,
because of the first mission, Sophia became Alan's greatest hope of spiritual
deliverance. The first mission changed Sophia's world, and the second mission
would also change the future of mankind.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Aegypt is likely one of the few novels with a
warning from the publisher: "There was a time when ancient magic reigned, and
the forces of light and darkness battled for supremacy. A time before
monotheism—the idea of “one God”—began to take hold on the earth. The
discoveries Lieutenant Paul Bolang make in Aegypt catapult the reader back to
those pre-Christian days…and help the reader understand why God acted as he did,
back in the life and times of Moses. They also beg the questions: If a person
from the ancient world walked suddenly on the earth, what would he or she tell
us about their times? What if that person was revered as a goddess in the
ancient world? And what if she were malevolent? Due to the subject matter,
this book contains some graphic content."

If you check the reviews for this book, you will find that most readers are
not offended, but this isn't your typical inspirational novel.

An unspeakable evil and an unbelievable power is about to be released into
the world...Lieutenant Paul Bolang, stationed at Fort Saint in Tunisia in the
1920's discovers a hieroglyph. Suspecting that the fort might have been built
beside an ancient Egyptian foundation, he summons an archaeological party. When
a tomb is discovered and opened, death strikes immediately...and reveals a
grisly secret.Lt. Bolang soon uncovers two other tombs: the tombs of the Goddess
of Light and the Goddess of Darkness. As the first tomb is opened, a being
escapes into the desert...and is pursued by Bolang. What will the next tomb
hold? Will opening it unleash a great evil and suffering on mankind, as many
believe? Or is all that simply a myth?Could two ancient Egyptian goddesses be
resurrected into the modern world? Lt. Bolang must choose what to believe...and
determine what is believable.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

You've seen Aksinya a couple of times. If you like my style of writing, you can find six of my novels in current publication with two more soon to come. I have written twenty-one novels total, over 42 published technical articles, over 15 published short
stories. Here is the publisher's blurb on my novel
Centurion. Check it out at www.CenturionNovel.com. You can find
it at most web booksellers.

Hauntingly compelling, Centurion gives life
to Abenadar, the man who was entrusted with the controversial and potentially
explosive crucifixion of Christ. A longing heart. An unlikely friendship.
Love...and the bitterest of betrayals. The son of a Galilean concubine-a
Jewess-and a Roman ambassador, Abenadar suffered disapproving stares in the
village of Natzeret, but so did the boy Yeshua, son of Yosef and Miryam. Perhaps
it wasn't unusual the two became fast friends. As Abenadar rises through the
ranks of the Roman Legion to assume the rank of Centurion, he finds love with
Ruth, a woman he rescues from the streets of Jerusalem. She believes the prophet
Jesus is the One-the Messiah-everyone has been waiting for. Abenadar is dubious.
He's seen too many messiahs.and they all died on Roman crosses. But what if
Jesus is telling the truth? As advisor to Procurator Pontius Pilate and a Roman,
Abenadar has a duty to uphold...but it may cause him to lose everything. For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

There are many approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation.

When you complete a novel, you need some sense of completion. I didn't feel that the end at the second climax of Aksinya was sufficient. That's why I added this last scene. I wanted to give the reader a completion of Aksinya, Natalya, and Ernst's lives. This isn't the end, but it certainly completes an entire epoch in their lives.

Aksinya stood and
entered the office.The headmistress had
her back to Aksinya and walked back to her desk.The woman seemed young.Very young for a headmistress.One shoulder drooped a little lower than the
other, but her back was ramrod straight and her clothing was very fine, much
finer than Aksinya’s.

The desk was large
and filled one end of the room.The
office was rather deep and had a fireplace on the left wall.Some padded chairs and a simple tea table
were arranged before the fireplace.An
unpadded chair sat before the desk.Without turning, the headmistress pointed to that chair.Aksinya stood beside it and waited for the
headmistress to sit.

The woman before
her gave a cry, “Princess Aksinya.”She
rushed around the desk and embraced her.

Aksinya couldn’t
get her breath she couldn’t speak.Finally, she threw her arms around the headmistress and exclaimed, “Lady
Natalya.”

Natalya buried her
face in Aksinya’s thick braided hair and blubbered.They stood together for a long time without
saying anything.Finally, Natalya spoke,
“I thought I would never see you again, Princess.”

Aksinya kissed her
cheeks, “Dear Lady Natalya, I would never have guessed I would find you
here.Is Herr von Taaffe with you?”

Natalya gave a
laugh, “I am Mrs. Natalya Alexandrovna
von Taaffe, though not called a Lady anymore.And you?”

“Father Dobrushin married me although he is
not a priest anymore, and I am no longer a Princess.”

Natalya’s moist eyes held Aksinya’s, “You
will always be a Princess.My lady’s
maid told me you were looking for a job.”

“Please, Lady Natalya, I’m certain you would
not wish to have me around you all the time.I know I will bring back terrible memories to you.”

“You don’t understand at all Princess.You are the reason I am here today.Wait with me for a while.Let me hear all that has happened to you
since we parted, then we will have luncheon with Sister Margarethe, and we will
discuss your teaching work in my school.”

“Sister Margarethe is also here?”

“Herr von Taaffe retained her as our housekeeper.She converted to Russian Orthodox and entered
an order in the United
States.Our school is loosely affiliated with Saint John’s.”Natalya held Aksinya at arms length and
looked her over, “Dear friend, we have so much to talk about and so much to
share.I do love you, Princess.I want you to remain with us forever.”

“In spite of everything that happened?”

“Because of everything that
happened before.That time marked the
end of a horrible and wonderful period, yet redemption came to you, to me.”She held Aksinya close, “I could not bear to
lose you again, Aksinya.You redeemed
me, the first of many.You shall redeem
many more.God exceeded our expectations
in spite of what we had done.”

So, we learn what happened to Natalya. We learned what happened to Ernst. We learned what will happen to Aksinya--she will find a job with her friend, Natalya, and with Sister Margarethe. The reader realizes that this isn't the end of the whole tale. It is certainly the end of the novel--it isn't the end of the lives of the characters. There is no purpose in continuing the story because the plot and theme have been played out. They have run their course. Finally, the reader gets a statement of the theme of the novel. This is the last paragraph. Most authors don't give you such a clear statement of the theme--I thought it was important here. Notice, it is provided by the conversation of a secondary character.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

About Me

L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing explores with originality those cultures and societies we think we already know. His writing distinctively develops the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive. L. D. Alford is familiar with technology and cultures—he is widely traveled and earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Dayton, and is a graduate of Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and the USAF Test Pilot School. L. D. Alford is an author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality. He is the author of three historical fiction novels: Centurion, Aegypt, and The Second Mission, and three science fiction novels: The End of Honor, The Fox’s Honor, and A Season of Honor.